Number of Deaths Connected To Drugs, Alcohol Has Dipped

The number of drug- and alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the Washington area dropped slightly last year after a more than 31 percent increase the previous year, according to a report to be released today by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

The 2.5 percent decrease in deaths from 2006 to 2007 came as traffic injuries and crashes related to drugs and alcohol fell. The improvement results from a more vigilant effort to prevent impaired driving through public awareness campaigns, officials said.

But the news coincides with a warning from officials, who say the holiday season is traditionally one of the most dangerous times of year to be on the road. More people are killed in crashes involving impaired drivers between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than at any other time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"When someone is still arrested for drunk driving every 45 minutes in the Washington metropolitan area, vigilance in combating this completely preventable killer is needed now more than ever," said David Robertson, executive director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, which compiled the data.

Despite last year's slight decrease, alcohol-related traffic deaths are up nearly 25 percent from 10 years ago, according to the study. Of the region's 351 traffic fatalities last year, a third were related to drugs and alcohol, which was lower than the national average of 45 percent. Last year, 116 people were killed, down from 119 in 2006. Nationally, the figure was up more than 12 percent.

In Northern Virginia, the only jurisdiction with an increase in fatalities was Arlington County, which had three last year. Loudoun County dropped from five in 2006 to none last year, and Fairfax fell from 24 to 19.

In the Maryland suburbs, Montgomery County saw a 23.5 percent decrease, from 17 to 13, and Prince George's jumped from 30 to 50. In the District, the figure rose from 15 to 16.

The across-the-board decreases are the result of "both highly visible law enforcement deterrent efforts like the region's Strikeforce campaign as well as increased public attention to the threat of drunk driving," said Kurt Erickson, president of the alcohol program.

Checkpoint Strikeforce, which is funded in part by the federal government, has enabled local police forces to operate more sobriety checkpoints and increase patrols. It has also generated an anti-drunken driving ad campaign.